PART TWO
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A Virtuous Woman Part One

A Virtuous Woman Part 3

(18) She tastes that her merchandise is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.

She savors what she reaps that is 'good'. When God created the heavens and the earth he saw that His creation was 'good'. (Gen.1:1). "And glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good." (Ro.2:10). She reaps and sows good by the light (Jesus) and darkness (adversity) cannot overcome it. (John 1:4,5; Psalms 27:1). She meditates (thinks on, studies) the word day and night. (Psalms 1:2). And it guides her, (Psalms 119:105). The light is her armor in adversity. (Ro.13:12). "...but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting". (Gal.6:8). "Light is sown for the righteous..." (Ps.97:11).

Psalms 112:4 "unto the upright there arises light in the darkness.."
Prov.4:18 "But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shines more and more unto a perfect day."
Prov.6:23 "For the commandment is a lamp and the law is a light (enlightenment)..."
Prov.13:9 "The light of the righteous rejoices..."
Hosea 10:12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy..."

The righteous are those who've accepted Jesus as Savior, and thereby been washed in His blood, and are seen by God as righteous.

(19) She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She is the center (middle, anchor) of her family. The Hebrew word, figuratively, in this verse, for 'spindle' is 'director'. It's the woman who holds together the family. She directs the paths her children take. "Oh, that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!" (Psalms 119:5). "...wisdom is profitable to direct". (Eccl. 10:10). She not only guides but sets the pattern in the home by which the family takes their cue. If mom says it's all right no one can talk them out of it. "The integrity of the upright shall guide them..." (Prov.11:3). "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule..." (Prov.12:24). 1 Timothy 3:4 is talking about elders (men of position among God's family) but a man will not have his children under subjection if the mother doesn't. If she is spoiling her children behind his back they will only obey as long as the father is present. Parents should always be seen by their children as a unit. It's the mother's job to see that the children obey the father's rules whether the father is home or not.

In the first 6 years of the children's lives she influences their thoughts to an overwhelming degree and to various degrees as they grow older. "...He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness..." (Ps.23:3).

She sustains, holds up and helps her family. She sees to their nourishment, maintains their physical and spiritual health. She helps them make decisions using correct judgments and she holds them in a tight grip of protection. Women have the gift of Helps. (1 Cor.12:28). Since she was created to help it's pretty obvious she'd have the gift of helps. And the virtuous woman desires to be her families help. (Gen.2:18).

(20) She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.

She disperses out of the palm of her hand to those who are spiritually or physically depressed. "Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked." (Ps. 82:3,4). See also Gal.2:10; Luke 4:18. She shows concern for the poor and needy as the Lord does. "But I am poor and need, yet the Lord thinks on me..." (Ps.40:17.) See also: Ps 12:5; 34:6; 40:17; 72:13; 109:31; 132:15. She follows Jesus so she must show compassion for the poor and needy because He does. "Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" (James 2:5). See also: Ps. 112:9; Prov.19:17; Matt25:34-40; 2 Cor.8:9; 9:9. The virtuous woman would be volunteering time or money to the food banks and other programs we have today to help and support the poor and needy. She would also be their for her friends in need.

(21) She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She doesn't dread that her family may be slain for the word of God. (Rev.6:9-11). Because her household is clothed in righteousness, they have life everlasting. "In the way of righteousnes is life and in the pathway thereof there is no death." (Prov.12:28). "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness.." (Ps.132:9).

"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven, yea, the Lord shall give that which is good and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps."(Ps.85:10-13).

"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who (revere) Him and His righteousness unto children's children."(Ps.103:17).

(22) She Makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

By commitment and design she causes herself to be covered by God's protection. (Ps.105:39) and forgiveness (Ro. 4:7; 1 Peter 4:8). She is a wife among wives, she is a righteous saint (fine linen). (Rev.19:8). The Lord loves her and she finds grace with Him. (Ezek.16:8-14). She is royalty. "And the King loved Esther above all the women & she obtained grace & favor in His sight more than all the virgins, so that He set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti." (Esther 2:17). "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day;.." (2 Tim. 4:8).

She is also Christ's chosen bride. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye would show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (1 Peter 2:9). "For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy; for I have married you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Cor. 11:2). He values her so much that the hairs of her head are numbered. (Matt.10:30). "...and the hairs of thine head like (royalty): the King is held in the (tresses)." (Song of Solomon 7:5). When she dies she will be carried by the angels to heaven just like the rich man who also was clothed in royalty (pre-eminence) and fine linen (righteousness). (Luke 16:19-22).

(23) Her husband is known in the Gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

You've heard the saying, "the woman behind the man" this is that kind of woman. If a man cannot be master in his own home then how can he be 'master' of anything else?(1 Tim. 3:5).

If women are submissive men feel like they have authority. They become known among the community leaders and employers as men of authority.

Submitting to a husband is submitting to Christ! "Therefore, as the (bride) is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything". (Eph. 5:24). "And hath put all things under His feet and gave Him to be the head over all things to the (bride). (Eph.1:22).

(24) She makes fine linen and sells it; and delivers girdles to the merchant.

She commits to righteousness, surrenders in marriage, is giving, prepared and truthful (loins girded about with truth. (Eph.6:14). Unto a well rounded (complete) walk (course).

A virtuous woman gets wisdom from her reverence toward God and she gets truth from Jesus Christ. "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6). "....when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth." (John 4:23,24). "Nevertheless, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; (Holy Spirit), but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come." (John 16:14).

She is a fulfilled woman, well rounded, complete and perfected in body soul and spirit. "...that ye may stand perfect and complete in the will of God." (Col.4:12). "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14). "But whosoever keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected, by this we know ye that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." (1 John 2:5,6).

She finishes what she starts. In this day and age we CHOOSE whether or not we want to be wives and mothers. If we sleep with a man we take the chance of pregnancy, every time! That is our choice and if we get pregnant God is giving us a very precious gift and a very important 'CALLING'. Do it. Those who recognize that it is a 'calling' will be more fulfilled than they ever dreamed of being. It is hard work but well worth it! The virtuous woman completes the course set before her. (If we don't complete this calling how will the Lord trust us with another?). She knows it will be a hard course full of troubles, burdens, grief but none of this matters. She doesn't think only of herself but of finishing her course with joy and to show others by example "the way".See Acts 20:23,24. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,..." (2 Tim.4:7).

I'd like to take a little side path here: a virtuous woman wouldn't consider abortion but neither would she condemn someone who had. A virtuous woman would try to make a case for the woman considering abortion but in the end the choice is the mothers. We all have done things we are not proud of and to a Christian woman a life is so precious but it really is not our place to condemn others for wrong choices made with 'lack of knowledge'. To try to force someone to our views and then get angry when they disagree is not "the way" taught by Jesus Christ and is not Biblical. The entire Bible tells us to lead with the love of Christ and if someone claims to be a Christian but shows no love he is a liar. (1 John 4:16-21; 2 John 5; Ro. 13:10; Gal.5:14; Eph.3:17-19).

How soon we forget that we too walked in the world, but we turned to Him because of HIS LOVE. "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and His Father, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Rev.1:5,6).

(25) Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Security, praise, magnificence and beauty are in her wifeliness. She shall rejoice in time to come. She shall laugh and play from everlasting to everlasting.

Dictionary:
Security: free from fear, anxiety, danger, doubt
Praise: to commend the worth of; expression of approval or admiration
Magnificence: richness and splendor; stately, beautiful

Because of her love toward God, her husband, her children and the poor and needy she has no fear. (1 John 4:18). She knows God is her provider so she isn't anxious. (Matt. 6:25-24). She doesn't doubt God. (Matt 21:21; Mark 11:23,24). She has assurance. (Hebrews 6:11; 10:22; 1 John 3:19). She is tranquil (peaceful). (Dan. 4:27; Ps.29:11). She shall be commended according to her wisdom. (Prov.12:8; 2 Cor. 10:18). Her strength and honor are in her love of others. Her trust and faith in the Lord gives her assurance and peace. She knows she is under God's protection and she is rich in wisdom and inner beauty.

God calls us children throughout the Bible and tells us we must be as little children to inherit heaven. (Luke 18:17). Dancing joyfully before Him. (Ps.149:2-4) See also: 2 Sam.6:16; Acts 3:8; Song of Solomon 2:8.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Ps. 126:5). "Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight (playing) always before Him. (Playing) in the habitable parts of the earth;..." (Prov.8:30,31).

Because of all the hardship a woman must endure, the constant battle going on between her and the enemy; because her work is never done and she is faithful in raising the next generation for Him, her reward is to forever play. To go back to those carefree years of playing in the warm hours of the day without a care. Praise the Lord, the one who knows us best and loves us most!